Switching from Coco to Organic soil

[Stilg7]

Hey everyone, like the title states I've been considering switching growing mediums. I've been growing for about 2 years now strictly in coco. I've got most of my knowledge from cocoforcannabis' website and use everything they suggest. When I harvest my plants I'm always a little disappointed in the color and smell of my flowers. The color always seems to be a darker shade of green, instead of vibrant lime greens buds like I'm accustomed to buying "off the street". And the smell can be very faint and I need to squeeze the buds in order to get a good whiff of them. I only grow autoflowers and all of my seeds have been from MSNL. I've had a couple grows that went well but I hand water so keeping up with these plants can become quite time consuming. From what I've read growing in organic soil can help with the time investment as well as the smell (I'm not sure about the color).

From doing a little research am I wrong in thinking that it can be as easy as growing in 5gal smart pots with the bottom 1/3 of the pot filled with Fox Farm Ocean Forest and the remaining 2/3 filled with regular fox farm potting soil or their coco loco. Then all that's left to do is water the plants with water at the correct pH?

Any and all information would be greatly appreciated. Thank in advance y'all.

 

[ThaPollinator!]

I tried OF years ago. It turned out ok but I wasn't that pumped about it. Definitely a good read first -

https://www.autoflower.org/threads/the-basics-very-basic-of-organic-growing-for-begginers.46735/

 

[armanidog]

I have 5 gallon fabric pots. I'm switching to 10 gallon fabric pots. When the plant gets older, I'm finding I have to water almost everyday. If you do go with fabric pots get some plastic flower pot trays, it will keep water from leaking all over the floor of your growing area.

 

[Stilg7]

I tried OF years ago. It turned out ok but I wasn't that pumped about it. Definitely a good read first -

https://www.autoflower.org/threads/the-basics-very-basic-of-organic-growing-for-begginers.46735/

Thanks for the link.

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

Hey everyone, like the title states I've been considering switching growing mediums. I've been growing for about 2 years now strictly in coco. I've got most of my knowledge from cocoforcannabis' website and use everything they suggest. When I harvest my plants I'm always a little disappointed in the color and smell of my flowers. The color always seems to be a darker shade of green, instead of vibrant lime greens buds like I'm accustomed to buying "off the street". And the smell can be very faint and I need to squeeze the buds in order to get a good whiff of them. I only grow autoflowers and all of my seeds have been from MSNL. I've had a couple grows that went well but I hand water so keeping up with these plants can become quite time consuming. From what I've read growing in organic soil can help with the time investment as well as the smell (I'm not sure about the color).

From doing a little research am I wrong in thinking that it can be as easy as growing in 5gal smart pots with the bottom 1/3 of the pot filled with Fox Farm Ocean Forest and the remaining 2/3 filled with regular fox farm potting soil or their coco loco. Then all that's left to do is water the plants with water at the correct pH?

Any and all information would be greatly appreciated. Thank in advance y'all.

@Stilg7 I think you are looking at the wrong aspect of your environment. The quality and spectrum of your light system can make a huge difference in the THC/cannabinoid profile and greatly improve your terpene levels. I say this assuming you have been able to grow healthy plants in coco? I chased these same qualities with nutrition but solved my problems with more blue light in veg, Far Red for 15 minutes - 7 days at lights out. Then UVA through to harvest. UVB the last 3 weeks to harvest. Give a dose of Advanced Nutrients Bud Candy 2 weeks prior to harvest and molasses 1 week before harvest.

I think it is probably a good thing your buds don't look commercial. Commecial hide mold, have insecticides and who knows what?

All that said I am a big fan of True Organic Living Soil. Your going to want to follow @WildBill and @Proph as they are some of our top organic growers. There are many others that will help.

Have fun

 

[Stilg7]

@Stilg7 I think you are looking at the wrong aspect of your environment. The quality and spectrum of your light system can make a huge difference in the THC/cannabinoid profile and greatly improve your terpene levels. I say this assuming you have been able to grow healthy plants in coco? I chased these same qualities with nutrition but solved my problems with more blue light in veg, Far Red for 15 minutes - 7 days at lights out. Then UVA through to harvest. UVB the last 3 weeks to harvest. Give a dose of Advanced Nutrients Bud Candy 2 weeks prior to harvest and molasses 1 week before harvest.

I think it is probably a good thing your buds don't look commercial. Commecial hide mold, have insecticides and who knows what?

All that said I am a big fan of True Organic Living Soil. Your going to want to follow @WildBill and @Proph as they are some of our top organic growers. There are many others that will help.

Have fun

Thanks for the response. I have grown several plants successfully in coco but the bud quality hasn't been close to what I was looking for in the looks, smell, taste and the potency departments. I have grown plants that had really nice big colas with dense buds but after harvest/drying/curing the look/smell/taste/potency just weren't what I'm expecting. I'm not too knowledgeable with lights. I'm using 2x QB96 Elite V2 Quantum Board Engine and they are running at max wattage in a 2x4x6 tent. I have a lux meter I use to make sure the plants are receiving adequate light during the different stages of the plant. Admittedly sometimes my plants do grow too high and some colas receive too intense of light at times, that's something I need to learn how to control. I flush like it says to on the cocoforcannabis website with ro water and even use the GH florakleen. Is the GH line of nutes not that impressive? And does that info about my lights explain any of these things?

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

What driver do you have? This guy wants to sell you a meter so be forewarned but he explains stuff well.

 

[Stilg7]

What driver do you have? This guy wants to sell you a meter so be forewarned but he explains stuff well.

I have a Mean Well HLG-320H-54A

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

I have a Mean Well HLG-320H-54A

So you have about 300 watts for 8 sqft. or about 37 watts per foot² That is on the low side but should grow weed. You should look at adding some more when you can. The UVA and UVB supplemental light is really important. I use AgroMax Pure UVB and AgroMax UVA Plus 10,000k 48t5 bulbs in my grow I think they make 2 footers as well.